Perfected Perversion: Dining on The “Free Range Rude”

Ten years following Silence of the Lambs, the sinister Dr. Lector is still at large. His intellectual contender and the arm of justice, Clarice Starling, continues to be disturbed by his murderous appeal, and when Lector decides to quite his self enforced retirement, Clarice returns to the case. It’s like old times again as the two battle wits in an elegant dance of life and death – cannibalism and an altruistic desire to silence the lambs of conscious. But, this time, the stakes will far exceed prior battles as new and equally vicious players join the fray, bringing their own emotional baggage and long awaited vengeance. Hannibal has made enemies . . . vituperative individuals who exist soley to imbibe the healing waters of vengeance against the psychopathic monster Hannibal has become. Add to this bubbling brew of impending menace and bursting mayhem, a shocking new element of emotional distress that is expertly interwoven into the fabric of the tale, exploring the novel concept of love, even in a corrupt vessel of a heart and the dour ingredients of a macabre stew of perverse horror perfection is made. Serve well stirred . . .

Dr. Lector, the delightfully first-class, sinisterly appealing, suave Anthony Hopkins has returned better, and far more R-rated than before, killing with strokes of Machiavellian genius and a penchant for the psychologically disturbing. Lector’s peaceful ten years of mild mayhem and slow paced slaughter have left the sharp witted cannibal wanting for intellectual stimulation and as Clarice’s illustrious career as an all star FBI agent takes a public swan dive, Hannibal seeks out his long time nemesis and the dance between evil and good commences once again, filled with more peril and more shock than ever before.

Meanwhile, Clarice takes up the Hannibal case once again to save her career and satisfy the stabs of curiosity that her conscious still harbors, all these many years later. Dr. Lector knew things, secrets, about her that could perhaps explain her own downfall. Clarice seeks not only answers to Hannibal’s long lasting riddles, but to the deterioration of her soul and as Hannibal’s desire for stimulation and Clarice’s emotional burden combine together, a fast paced, unforgettable, emotionally taxing plotline ensues, plumbing the depths of the human heart and traveling through the spectrums of good and evil in a gore drenched show down as Hannibal and Clarice explore their own emotional baggage.

As Lector and Clarice take up the fight once again, new players begin to plumb the depths of their own hearts, and as usual, the series interweaves concepts of horror and mystery to create an eerie tale of humanity at its best and worst. Will Clarice discover Hannibal and bring the arm of justice swiftly and satisfyingly down, clearing aside all the tendrils of emotion and a disastrous career? Will Hannibal succeed in winning the mental chess game and, if so, will his infinitesimal feelings of friendship be enough to save Clarice from becoming the first course? Will one of Hannibal’s and Clarice’s many enemies arise and sway the balances? As the plot rockets forward the tension rises and finally . . . voila! A heart stopping conclusion that transforms the series, ending with a knife twist that delivers a visceral impact, stunning and satisfying at the same time, leaving the viewer locked into visions of possibilities that could perhaps change everything. Hannibal is better than ever and as the series progresses, so does his character. All the elements of eerie menace and heart stopping evil have remained the same, yet something distinctly human is beginning to bud in that bosom of darkness leaving the viewer to wonder what it all could mean.

As always, Anthony Hopkins proved an actor extraordinaire, becoming his character and pulling the ensorcelled audience in even deeper. Combining mannerisms, body language, and that certain magical aura, Hopkins once again slips into his character seamlessly. Likewise Clarice, played by Julianne Moore, was also a competent and realistic actor. However, despite all her wonderful talent, Jodi Foster is still the quintessential agent Starling. Nevertheless, the chemistry between Hannibal and Clarice is just as visceral as always tugging at the viewers’ minds and hearts while ramping up the paranoia. The supporting cast of villains and well meaning interferers were likewise well chosen and complimentary to the storyline.

Malignant, mesmerizing, and disturbingly magnificent, Hannibal proves the best edition to the Silence of the Lambs series, taking beloved friends and foes and turning the page to reveal a further progression of their lives as the story deepens, darkens, and acquires a strange almost haunting beauty as a powerful depth of emotion is delivered, hitting the viewer between the eyes with a harsh, radiant power. Unforgettable, a roller coaster ride of a story, Hannibal is not to be missed. Unequivocally recommended.

Countess_Eva
 
Hannibal Lector Movie Series:
 
Silence of the Lambs
Red Dragon
Hannibal
Hannibal Rising
Manhunter